Average monthly retail beef prices have dipped back to being close to last year although above the 2013-2017 average, even though consumers are paying more for choice beef, according to statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the USDA’s Economic Research Service. The data was compiled by the Livestock Marketing Information Center in Denver.  … Read More

As the markets cool after Tyson’s fire at its Holcomb, KS, beef slaughter and packing plant, a well-known agricultural economist took a look at the role of markets in disaster situations. Derrell Peel, from Oklahoma State University, examined market reaction in a letter to Extension agents called Cow/Calf Corner.  This is a shortened version of … Read More

Large commodity investment firms, or managed money, trimmed their collective net long live cattle futures position during the week ended Tuesday, while hedgers barely moved their net short position. The data came from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in its weekly Commitments of Traders report on Friday. Managed money’s new net long position Tuesday stood … Read More

Amid the uncertainty of the fed cattle and wholesale beef markets in the wake of Tyson Foods’ fire at its Holcomb, KS, plant, is the possibility that cattle and product prices could make counter-seasonal moves. In the end, the markets likely will even out, but in the short run, the uncertainties of how, when and … Read More

The US/China trade war cooled a bit this week as President Donald Trump delayed the imposition of new 10% tariffs on $300 billion worth of Chinese goods for at least a couple of months. That does not, however, stop the tariff war, especially after China allowed its currency the renminbi, or yuan, to slip below … Read More

Beef magazine recently ran a series of articles from Private Market Advisor Nevil Speer about the inner workings of the futures markets.  Beef has graciously allowed their reprinting here. This is the third in the series, edited for length and style.   FUTURES BY ANY OTHER NAME   Futures markets seem to illicit an array … Read More

The USDA Monday raised its forecast for total red meat and poultry production in 2019 to 104.624 million pounds from 104.517 million last month as increases in broiler and turkey production more than offset expected production declines in beef and pork. For 2020, the red meat and poultry production forecast was raised to 106.479 billion … Read More